Building structure



. F. P. SIMMEN.

BUILDING STRUCTURE. APPLICATION FILED Aue.2o, 1919.

Patented Oct. 26, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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1 24AM P av A "(TOR-NEW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE.

FRANK P. SIMMEN', OF SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA.

BUILDING STRUCTURE.

Application filed August 20, 1919.

' ments in Building Structures; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, concise, and exact description of the same.

The invention relates particularly to columns, girders, and braces forbuilding structures.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a structure of such adesign'that it may be made up in units and easily assembled at the pointof installation; to com binethe maximum strength with the minimum amountof material, and in the present disclosure arranged particularly in itsapplication to library structures for book shelves. Another object ofthe invention is to provide a pilaster inclosure for the exposed columnto improve the architectural appearance and to provide space for theconcealment of electric and other conduits.

In this specification and the annexed drawq ings, the invention isillustrated in the form considered to be the best, but it is to beunderstood that this "invention is not limited to such form because itmay be embodied in other forms, and it is also to be understood that inand by the claims following the description it is desired to cover theinvention in whatever form it may be embodied.

ings,

Figure 1 is a detail in perspective of a column constructed and joinedin assembly with glrders and braces in accordance wlth posite columnwith the pilaster .sheet attached thereto.

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing a modified pilaster for corner columnsSpecification of Letters Patent.

In the accompanying two sheetsof draw- Patented Oct. 26, wee.

Serial No; 318,754..

lln detail the construction illustrated in the drawings includes acolumn built up of a plurality of separate plates substantially W shapein cross section, the angles of which are ninety degrees to form asquare column, with laterally projecting flanges. These plates are soshaped and preferably uniform in cross section, to facilitate theirfabrication by coldrolling. The forming rolls are such that they form adouble rectangle or corrugated strip having the planes 2, 3 and flanges1 and 4, all of which planes and flanges are in the present instance at90 to each other.

. These strips are assembled as shown in Fig.

1, the flange 1 abutting the flange 4 of the contiguous strip, to whichthey are spot welded or riveted to form an integral col- 1 and 4 joinedas described. A column of V this construction will withstand greatcompressing strain longitudinally, relatively to its weight, at the sametime combining great lateral rigidity, owing to the extended flanges. I

A further advantage of a column of this shape is the facility with whichthe ends may be joined to the contiguous sections to form a continuouslength. Joining of the abutted ends of column sections is accomplishedby the joining plates, similar in cross section to the strips formingthe column and formed with the planes 5, 6, 7 and 8 adapted to fitsnugly against the planes 2, 3 and flanges 1 and 4 or nest in the sidesof the column, four plates being required to form a joint. The

planes 5 and 8 are provided with holes as at 9-9 and 10-10, registeringwith holes through the laterally extended flanges 1%. These holes arearranged so that the ends of the column sections lie in contact, so thatwhen the bolts 11 having the nuts thereon are pulled tight, the abuttingends of the column sections are held in rigid relation by these tensionmembers.

f Joints 1n the column occurring at floor girders, I prefer to ,cutawaythe adjacent flanges 1-4 on opposite sides of the superposed columnend, a distance back from the end thereof equal to the height of thegirder (see Fig. 3) whereby the end of the girder abuts the planes "32of the-column section and the head 17 of the girder overhangs thejoining plates beneaththe flange guise the column I provide theornamental 1-4 of the upper column section. The bolt through the hole 9also passes through the stem 14 of the girder holding the end thereof inrigid connection with the upright column, the bracket 12 also acting. asa corner gusset. In Fig. 1 the floor girders are shown as extending fromthe supporting column from opposite sides. It is obvious however, thatthey may be joined to the. column on one or all four sides by the meansdescribed. In the present instance, however, for library shelving theconstruction illustrated in Fig. 1 is sufficient. Lateral stabilitybetween the columns is accomplished by the stay bars 19, preferably alsoof T cross section having the stem 18 confined between the bracket 13 bythe bolt 20 passing therethrough with the end of the stay changeabilityof parts, and the uniformity of this structure, it is adaptable tomanyuses other than those suggested herein.

To accommodate adjustable shelving for books, the planes 2 and 3 onopposite sides of the column may be perforated as at 21, to

receive the hooks 22 and the studs 23 formed on the ends 24 of the bookshelves 25, extending between adjacent columns (see Figs. 4 and 5). j I

When it is desired to ornamentally dispilaster 26 (see Fig. 5). Thispreferably consists of a strip of material bent in substantially channelshape, having the sides .27 and the inturned edges 28 forming grooves at29 engaging the flanges 14 on opposite sidesof the column.- Thesepilasters can be sprung open sufliciently to pass the edges 28 over theedges of the-flanges.

or they may be assembled endwise on the column section before thelatterare joined together. The pilaster rests upon a base 30 which maybe integral therewith or preferably detachable to facilitateinstallation of floor plates, marble slabs, or any other form of floor.These pilasters are surmounted by a removable cap 31 of ornaplates andsaid flanges;'brackets adjacent mentaldesign. The space within thepilaster provides ample room for the reception of electric conduits orwiring to the switch 33 fixed to the outside of the pilaster. Thesepilasters contribute to the architec-- tural finish of the structure and.provide convenient surface for the. reception of guide cards 34 and thelike.

For corner columns I provide a modification of the pilaster, illustratedin Fig. 7. These pilasters may be embossed, fluted, or otherwiseornamented.

Having thus described this invention, what ll claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A metal structure including a poly onal column having laterallyextended flanges; a plurality of joining plates nesting in the angles ofsaid column between said flanges; tension members extending through saidplates and said flanges; and an angular girder having a part engagingone of said tension members between two of said joining plates, anditsend abutting the side of said column in a cut away portion of theadjacent said flange.

2. A metal structure including a polygonal column having laterallyextended flanges;

a plurality of joining plates nesting in the 1 angles of said columnbetween said flanges; tension members extending through said plates andsaid flanges; and brackets on said plates extending beyond said flanges.

3. Ametal structure including a polygonal column having laterallyextended flanges; a plurality of joining plates nesting in the angles ofsaid columnbetween said flanges; tension members extending through saidplates and said flanges; and'integral brackets on said plates extending'beyondsaid flanges.

4. Ametal structure including a polygonal column having laterallyextended flanges; a

plurality of joining plates nesting in the angles of saidcolumn betweensaid flanges; tension members extending through said plates and saidflanges; brackets on said plates extending beyond said flanges; andgirders fixed to said brackets.

5. A metal structure including a polygonal column having laterallyextended flanges; a plurality of joining plates nesting in the angles ofsaid column between said flanges;

tension members extending through. said plates and said flanges;brackets on said' plates extending beyond saidflanges; gird- 'ers fixedto said brackets; and struts fixed to said brackets below the level ofthe top and transversely to said girders.

6. A metal structure including a polygonal column having laterallyextended flanges; a plurality of joining plates nesting in the angles ofsaid column between said flanges; tension members extending through saidsaid joining plates; a girder fixed between a plurality of joiningplates nesting in the angles of said column between said flanges andoverhanging the end of said column;

and tension members extending through said plates and said flanges; andintegral brackets on adjacent sa d plates and extending beyond thecontiguous flange; a girder fixed between said brackets and its endextending across said flange; and a superposed 15 column fitting withinsaid joiningplates;

' In testimonywhereof, I have hereunto set my hand at the city of SanFrancisco, California, this 11th day of August, 1919.

FRANK P. SIMMEN.

In presence of- LINCOLN V. JOHNSON, I

A. J. HENRY.

